Crazy Hives!

[tctrek]

I wish. My company is cutting back to survive in the economy. They vacuum and empty trash cans once a week. And never, ever shampoo the carpet.

[ny biker]

I had a case of mystery hives a couple of years ago. Mostly on my hips and then on my butt, but also on my elbows, knees and the tops of my feet. And my knuckles - that really itched. The doctor had no idea what caused them, and for the life of me I couldn't think of any new food, cosmetics, detergent, etc. that might be the cause. But the doctor did give me a prescription for corticosteriods that cleared them up.

In the meantime, an antihistamine (benadryl) should help, if you can handle the drowsiness.

[Eden]

I got hives (and a freakishly swollen face) from using a sauna once... itchy hives on the tops of my feet, behind my knees and in the creases of my elbows - the swollen face made its appearance the next morning.

[tctrek]

I just remembered I did try a new food yesterday and today... trying to go more organic on my snacks and ate these Flax Krisps. Gluten free, etc. What a kick in the pants if I'm allergic to this healthy food! I'll skip them tomorrow and see what happens.

[Grog]

Do you have red cheeks like you were just slapped in the face?

[Kano]

It's been a while, but here's something I found helped with hives during one mystery-induced episode. It was really helpful that it was a nice, cold winter in Minnesota at the time:

COLD

It seems that for me at least, the darned things have to come out on every bit of me, and on their own, it seemed to take days. But, if I got nice and warm, a bunch would come out. I'd go out in the cold and get one heck of a chill, and those would go away. Repeat....

(not that you can do this in like an hour or two, but it did speed things up considerably...)

And LOTS of water, to rinse out your system!

Everything else, as bland as possible, to not aggravate anything.

Karen in Boise